History

Next Photo >

1908

Founded as a wagon distributor of soda fountain supplies, delivering goods on the dirt roads of Portland, Oregon. The original name is Gray, McLean & Percy.

1910’s

The Company begins manufacturing Pennant-brand fruit toppings, syrups and glace fruit at NW 4th & Glisan in Portland, in a district known today as “Old Town”.

1934

The official name is changed to “Gray & Company”, and is now based at 1305 NW Davis Street in Portland, what is today the high rent “Pearl District”.

1940’s

Hudson House, an Oregon canned fruit packer, acquires Gray & Company. One of the product lines becomes C Ration fruitcake for the troops in WWII.

1946

A formula for making 3 gallons of Root Beer Flavor Base, circa 1946. The handwritten notes are the cost calculations.

1953

Manufacturing is moved from Portland to Forest Grove, Oregon.

1971

American Bakeries acquires Gray & Company.

1973

An 80,000 square foot facility is built in Dayton, Oregon, for cherry receiving, brining and pitting.

1977

The company expands by constructing a new processing facility in Hart, Michigan. Gray & Company becomes the first maraschino processor with facilities in the two largest cherry growing regions in the U.S.

1981

American Bakeries sells to a new ownership group led by CEO, James Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds serves as CEO for the next 35 years.

1984

Gray & Company acquires International Fruit Products Company, a Cincinnati-based glace fruit and maraschino processor, and consolidates operations into the Hart, Michigan, plant.

1989

The debut of CherryMan as the company mascot. He appears on a jar of maraschinos for the first time in 1990.

1992

Gray & Company acquires Queen Anne cordials from Hershey. Queen Anne becomes the #1 brand within five years.

1998

CherryMan Jumbo Toppers are launched and becomes the #1 branded maraschino item.

2006

Gray & Company sells the Queen Anne cordials business to World’s Finest Chocolate of Chicago.

2011

Gray & Company closes its aging Forest Grove, Oregon, plant to consolidate all finished product manufacturing in Michigan. The Dayton, Oregon, plant remains as a critical operation for the acquisition and brining of Northwest-grown cherries.

2012

The CherryMan character debuts a new look.

2014

CherryMan Farm to Market Maraschinos earn distinction as the world’s first Non-GMO Project Verified maraschino cherry.

2015

CherryMan launches cherry industry’s first pasteurized PET container.

Gray & Company is acquired by Seneca Foods.

Gray & Company, The Cherry Idea Company

Founded in 1908, Gray & Company is the home of CherryMan, and began as a wagon distributor of bakery ingredients on the unpaved streets of Portland, Oregon. Over the years, the company moved into fruit processing and today Gray & Company is the world’s largest maraschino cherry producer. We are the largest supplier of maraschino cherries to the U.S. grocery trade, and are a leading supplier of glacé (candied) fruit and cherries for ice cream and confection applications. From our manufacturing bases in Michigan and Oregon, we supply all of North America and markets around the globe.

In 1981, Gray & Company was acquired by an ownership group led by James G. Reynolds.

In 1992, Gray & Company acquired the Queen Anne brand of cordial cherries from Hershey. Over the next fourteen years, Gray & Company increased Queen Anne sales by more than 400% and achieved greater than 70% U.S. market share. In January of 2006, Gray & Company sold Queen Anne to World’s Finest Chocolate, returning the brand to its roots as a Chicago confection.

In 2015, Gray & Company was acquired by Seneca Foods, North America’s leading provider of packaged fruits and vegetables. For more information, please read the press release on the Seneca Foods website.

Today, more than 100 years since its birth, Gray & Company continues to provide customers with quality products that can be found all over the world. Manufacturing operations are led out of Hart, Michigan. Gray & Company is one of the largest employers in Oceana County, Michigan, and the largest buyer of sweet cherries in Michigan.